Kansas City, Kansas bumped out three-year incumbent Fort Collins, Colorado to become the city with the safest drivers, according to a new insurance claims report.
The annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report," now in its 11th year, is based on an analysis of accident claims to determine how often crashes occurred in the 200 largest U.S. metro areas.
Brownsville, Texas, and Boise, Idaho, also top the list of cities that can brag about having the safest drivers. The least safe cities include Boston, Worcester, Massachusetts, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
New this year, the report provides information about what insures say is a notable factor in collisions – braking habits -- in approximately 100 cities nationally. Allstate pulled data from its Drivewise offering, which monitors driving habits to determine if drivers qualify for a safe-driving discount, to determine braking trends. A hard braking event is defined as slowing down 8 miles per hour or more over a one-second time interval.
Allstate found a correlation between hard braking and collision frequency. Cities with higher collision frequency also recorded more hard braking events. Nationally, on average, a driver will experience 16 hard braking events for every 1,000 miles driven, according to Allstate.
Factors that affect average car insurance rates
Many factors go into setting your car insurance rate, including your driving record, the type of car you drive and the amount and severity of claims filed within in your ZIP code. Here is how 200 cities rank for safe drivers. Use our average car insurance rates tool to find premiums for your ZIP code:
2015 Safest Driving City Ranking | City | Avg. Years Between Accidents | Relative Accident Likelihood (Compared To Nat’l Avg.) | 2014 Safest Driving City Ranking | Change From 2014 To 2015 | 2015 Drivewise Braking Events per 1,000 Miles |
1 | Kansas City, KA | 13.3 | -24.8% | 4 | +3 | N/A |
2 | Brownsville, TX | 13.3 | -24.6% | 2 | 0 | N/A |
3 | Boise, ID | 13.1 | -23.5% | 3 | 0 | 14.0 |
4 | Fort Collins, CO | 12.7 | -21.1% | 1 | -3 | 16.6 |
5 | Cape Coral, FL | 12.7 | -21.0% | 15 | +10 | 16.3 |
6 | Madison, WI | 12.2 | -18.2% | 9 | +3 | 8.1 |
7 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 11.8 | -15.1% | 11 | +4 | N/A |
8 | Laredo, TX | 11.7 | -14.7% | 8 | 0 | N/A |
9 | Huntsville, AL | 11.7 | -14.7% | 5 | -4 | N/A |
10 | Cary, NC | 11.6 | -13.8% | 24 | +14 | N/A |
11 | Wichita, KS | 11.5 | -13.0% | 16 | +5 | 9.4 |
12 | Reno, NV | 11.5 | -12.7% | 17 | +5 | 15.7 |
13 | Montgomery, AL | 11.4 | -12.4% | 6 | -7 | N/A |
14 | Olathe, KS | 11.4 | -12.3% | 10 | -4 | 13.1 |
15 | Springfield, MO | 11.4 | -12.3% | 38 | +23 | 14.6 |
16 | Colorado Springs, CO | 11.4 | -12.1% | 14 | -2 | 17.1 |
17 | Kansas City, MO | 11.3 | -11.8% | 12 | -5 | 15.3 |
18 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 11.3 | -11.8% | 26 | +8 | 13.8 |
19 | Des Moines, IA | 11.3 | -11.7% | 13 | -6 | 6.8 |
20 | Birmingham, AL | 11.2 | -10.7% | 32 | +12 | N/A |
21 | Lincoln, NE | 11.0 | -9.1% | 18 | -3 | N/A |
22 | Fort Wayne, IN | 11.0 | -8.9% | 35 | +13 | 13.5 |
23 | Amarillo, TX | 10.9 | -8.1% | 34 | +11 | N/A |
24 | Lakewood, CO | 10.9 | -8.0% | 19 | -5 | 20.5 |
25 | Mobile, AL | 10.6 | -6.0% | 28 | +3 | N/A |
26 | Omaha, NE | 10.6 | -6.0% | 21 | -5 | 11.9 |
27 | Mesa, AZ | 10.6 | -5.9% | 22 | -5 | 20.1 |
28 | Chandler, AZ | 10.6 | -5.7% | 31 | +3 | 22.8 |
29 | Knoxville, TN | 10.6 | -5.6% | 27 | -2 | 17.2 |
30 | Peoria, AZ | 10.6 | -5.4% | 47 | +17 | 17.2 |
31 | Lexington, KY | 10.6 | -5.2% | 46 | +15 | 15.5 |
32 | Overland Park, KS | 10.5 | -4.9% | 29 | -3 | 11.3 |
33 | Gilbert, AZ | 10.5 | -4.4% | 20 | -13 | 18.2 |
34 | Dayton, OH | 10.3 | -2.6% | 49 | +15 | 16.2 |
35 | Eugene, OR | 10.3 | -2.5% | 23 | -12 | 13.4 |
36 | McAllen, TX | 10.2 | -2.1% | 51 | +15 | N/A |
37 | Tucson, AZ | 10.2 | -2.1% | 43 | +6 | 19.3 |
38 | Winston-Salem, NC | 10.2 | -1.8% | 41 | +3 | N/A |
39 | Scottsdale, AZ | 10.1 | -1.3% | 45 | +6 | 21.3 |
40 | Tallahassee, FL | 10.1 | -0.5% | 44 | +4 | 17.2 |
41 | Hampton, VA | 10.1 | -0.5% | 42 | +1 | 12.6 |
42 | Sioux Falls, SD | 10.0 | +0.3% | 36 | -9 | N/A |
43 | Jacksonville, FL | 10.0 | +0.3% | 54 | +11 | 15.4 |
44 | Lancaster, CA | 10.0 | +0.3% | 50 | +6 | N/A |
45 | Milwaukee, WI | 9.9 | +0.6% | 37 | -8 | 10.3 |
46 | Rockford, IL | 9.9 | +0.9% | 25 | -21 | 18.0 |
47 | Tempe, AZ | 9.9 | +1.2% | 33 | -14 | 19.4 |
48 | Toledo, OH | 9.9 | +1.4% | 66 | +18 | 16.9 |
49 | Newport News, VA | 9.8 | +2.0% | 48 | -1 | 14.3 |
50 | El Paso, TX | 9.8 | +2.1% | 56 | +6 | N/A |
51 | Chattanooga, TN | 9.8 | +2.1% | 30 | -21 | 14.2 |
52 | St. Petersburg, FL | 9.8 | +2.3% | 58 | +6 | 15.3 |
53 | Lubbock, TX | 9.8 | +2.5% | 40 | -13 | N/A |
54 | Akron, OH | 9.6 | +4.1% | 74 | +20 | 14.1 |
55 | Joliet, IL | 9.6 | +4.2% | 52 | -3 | 19.2 |
56 | Chesapeake, VA | 9.6 | +4.2% | 64 | +8 | 11.1 |
57 | Henderson, NV | 9.6 | +4.7% | 57 | 0 | 17.6 |
58 | Corpus Christi, TX | 9.5 | +4.8% | 59 | +1 | N/A |
59 | Salinas, CA | 9.5 | +5.6% | 53 | -6 | N/A |
60 | Indianapolis, IN | 9.4 | +6.5% | 76 | +16 | 14.9 |
61 | Glendale, AZ | 9.4 | +6.8% | 65 | +4 | 20.9 |
62 | Tulsa, OK | 9.3 | +7.3% | 96 | +34 | 14.2 |
63 | Phoenix, AZ | 9.3 | +7.4% | 79 | +16 | 20.6 |
64 | Spokane, WA | 9.3 | +7.5% | 71 | +7 | 12.9 |
65 | Aurora, IL | 9.2 | +8.5% | 68 | +3 | 20.3 |
66 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 9.2 | +8.6% | 61 | -5 | N/A |
67 | Clarksville, TN | 9.2 | +8.7% | 110 | +43 | 14.5 |
68 | Palmdale, CA | 9.2 | +8.8% | 70 | +2 | N/A |
69 | Louisville, KY | 9.2 | +8.9% | 60 | -9 | 14.5 |
70 | Cleveland, OH | 9.2 | +9.0% | 98 | +28 | 14.7 |
71 | Thousand Oaks, CA | 9.1 | +9.3% | 82 | +11 | N/A |
72 | Greensboro, NC | 9.1 | +9.5% | 55 | -17 | N/A |
73 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 9.1 | +9.7% | 125 | +52 | 18.8 |
74 | Salt Lake City, UT | 9.1 | +10.0% | 67 | -7 | 15.2 |
75 | Orlando, FL | 9.1 | +10.1% | 128 | +53 | 18.8 |
76 | Columbus, GA | 9.1 | +10.3% | 73 | -3 | N/A |
77 | Raleigh, NC | 9.1 | +10.5% | 101 | +24 | N/A |
78 | Elk Grove, CA | 9.0 | +10.5% | 83 | +5 | N/A |
79 | Ontario, CA | 9.0 | +10.8% | 91 | +12 | N/A |
80 | Oxnard, CA | 9.0 | +10.8% | 100 | +20 | N/A |
81 | Minneapolis, MN | 9.0 | +11.0% | 90 | +9 | 12.4 |
82 | Augusta, GA | 9.0 | +11.0% | 92 | +10 | N/A |
83 | Nashville, TN | 9.0 | +11.3% | 63 | -20 | 16.1 |
84 | Denver, CO | 9.0 | +11.5% | 88 | +4 | 17.3 |
85 | St. Louis, MO | 9.0 | +11.5% | 105 | +20 | 15.0 |
86 | Bakersfield , CA | 9.0 | +11.7% | 81 | -5 | N/A |
87 | Shreveport, LA | 8.9 | +11.8% | 84 | -3 | 13.1 |
88 | Richmond, VA | 8.9 | +12.0% | 97 | +9 | 14.4 |
89 | Oklahoma City, OK | 8.9 | +12.1% | 87 | -2 | 13.4 |
90 | Fayetteville, NC | 8.9 | +12.2% | 75 | -15 | N/A |
91 | Durham, NC | 8.9 | +12.2% | 108 | +17 | N/A |
92 | Moreno Valley, CA | 8.9 | +12.9% | 78 | -14 | N/A |
93 | Virginia Beach, VA | 8.8 | +13.1% | 111 | +18 | 13.1 |
94 | Vancouver, WA | 8.8 | +14.3% | 94 | 0 | 11.9 |
95 | West Valley, UT | 8.7 | +14.3% | 80 | -15 | 17.3 |
96 | Memphis, TN | 8.7 | +14.4% | 93 | -3 | 19.2 |
97 | Fontana, CA | 8.7 | +14.4% | 86 | -11 | N/A |
98 | Fresno, CA | 8.7 | +14.5% | 62 | -36 | N/A |
99 | Pasadena, TX | 8.7 | +14.7% | 95 | -4 | N/A |
100 | Naperville, IL | 8.7 | +15.1% | 107 | +7 | 19.8 |
101 | Pamona, CA | 8.7 | +15.2% | 118 | +17 | N/A |
102 | San Bernardino, CA | 8.7 | +15.2% | 69 | -33 | N/A |
103 | Huntington Beach, CA | 8.7 | +15.3% | 99 | -4 | N/A |
104 | Santa Rosa, CA | 8.7 | +15.3% | 119 | +15 | N/A |
105 | Escondido, CA | 8.6 | +15.7% | 113 | +8 | N/A |
106 | Waco, TX | 8.6 | +15.7% | 77 | -29 | N/A |
107 | Modesto, CA | 8.6 | +15.7% | 72 | -35 | N/A |
108 | Santa Clarita, CA | 8.6 | +15.9% | 85 | -23 | N/A |
109 | Albuquerque, NM | 8.6 | +16.1% | 126 | +17 | 13.4 |
110 | Detroit, MI | 8.6 | +16.6% | 104 | -6 | 21.7 |
111 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 8.6 | +16.9% | 132 | +21 | 23.3 |
112 | Chula Vista, CA | 8.5 | +17.0% | 89 | -23 | N/A |
113 | Las Vegas, NV | 8.5 | +17.0% | 123 | +10 | 18.3 |
114 | Jackson, MS | 8.5 | +17.3% | 106 | -8 | 12.7 |
115 | Sacramento, CA | 8.5 | +18.0% | 114 | -1 | N/A |
116 | Warren, MI | 8.5 | +18.0% | 124 | +8 | 22.1 |
117 | Stockton, CA | 8.5 | +18.1% | 117 | 0 | N/A |
118 | Aurora, CO | 8.5 | +18.3% | 115 | -3 | 19.1 |
119 | Columbus, OH | 8.4 | +18.4% | 135 | +16 | 16.5 |
120 | Salem, OR | 8.4 | +18.7% | 102 | -18 | 13.5 |
121 | St. Paul, MN | 8.4 | +18.9% | 103 | -18 | 15.9 |
122 | Charleston, SC | 8.4 | +19.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
123 | San Diego, CA | 8.4 | +19.2% | 112 | -11 | N/A |
124 | Riverside, CA | 8.4 | +19.3% | 120 | -4 | N/A |
125 | Hialeah, FL | 8.3 | +19.9% | 189 | +64 | 21.3 |
126 | Oceanside, CA | 8.3 | +20.6% | 109 | -17 | N/A |
127 | Anchorage, AK | 8.3 | +20.7% | 131 | +4 | N/A |
128 | North Las Vegas, NV | 8.3 | +21.1% | 130 | +2 | 20.8 |
129 | Orange, CA | 8.2 | +21.6% | 133 | +4 | N/A |
130 | Little Rock, AR | 8.2 | +21.8% | 122 | -8 | 13.7 |
131 | Tampa, FL | 8.1 | +23.0% | 160 | +29 | 17.2 |
132 | Corona, CA | 8.1 | +23.0% | 121 | -11 | N/A |
133 | Syracuse, NY | 8.1 | +23.3% | 136 | +3 | 15.5 |
134 | Chicago, IL | 8.0 | +24.4% | 139 | +5 | 24.7 |
135 | Killeen, TX | 8.0 | +24.8% | 129 | -6 | N/A |
136 | Jersey City, NJ | 8.0 | +25.3% | 152 | +16 | 21.5 |
137 | San Antonio, TX | 7.9 | +26.1% | 142 | +5 | N/A |
138 | Norfolk, VA | 7.9 | +26.4% | 143 | +5 | 13.0 |
139 | Santa Ana, CA | 7.9 | +26.6% | 137 | -2 | N/A |
140 | Grand Rapids, MI | 7.9 | +26.6% | 116 | -24 | 14.8 |
141 | Hollywood, FL | 7.9 | +26.8% | 148 | +7 | 23.2 |
142 | Charlotte, NC | 7.9 | +26.8% | 127 | -15 | N/A |
143 | Savannah, GA | 7.9 | +27.0% | 149 | +6 | N/A |
144 | Miramar, FL | 7.9 | +27.1% | 157 | +13 | 22.7 |
145 | Baton Rogue, LA | 7.9 | +27.2% | 134 | -11 | 16.5 |
146 | Frisco, TX | 7.8 | +27.6% | 145 | -1 | N/A |
147 | Miami, FL | 7.8 | +28.2% | 186 | +39 | 26.1 |
148 | Long Beach, CA | 7.8 | +28.6% | 141 | -7 | N/A |
149 | Columbia, SC | 7.8 | +28.8% | 154 | +5 | N/A |
150 | Honolulu, HI | 7.8 | +28.9% | 140 | -10 | N/A |
151 | New York, NY | 7.7 | +29.0% | 155 | +4 | 28.3 |
152 | Rochester, NY | 7.7 | +29.1% | 144 | -8 | 17.2 |
153 | Fort Worth, TX | 7.6 | +30.9% | 147 | -6 | N/A |
154 | McKinney, TX | 7.6 | +31.5% | 166 | +12 | N/A |
155 | Yonkers, NY | 7.6 | +32.3% | 167 | +12 | 26.8 |
156 | Hayward, CA | 7.6 | +32.3% | 138 | -18 | N/A |
157 | Buffalo, NY | 7.5 | +32.7% | 178 | +21 | 21.0 |
158 | New Orleans, LA | 7.4 | +34.4% | 181 | +23 | 13.2 |
159 | Irvine, CA | 7.4 | +35.0% | 156 | -3 | N/A |
160 | Cincinnati, OH | 7.4 | +35.9% | 170 | +10 | 15.5 |
161 | Sterling Heights, MI | 7.3 | +36.3% | 164 | +3 | 22.9 |
162 | Mesquite, TX | 7.3 | +36.4% | 168 | +6 | N/A |
163 | Plano, TX | 7.3 | +36.5% | 150 | -13 | N/A |
164 | Tacoma, WA | 7.3 | +36.6% | 153 | -11 | 15.9 |
165 | San Jose, CA | 7.3 | +37.0% | 151 | -14 | N/A |
166 | Austin, TX | 7.3 | +37.1% | 159 | -7 | N/A |
167 | Pasadena, CA | 7.3 | +37.6% | 169 | +2 | N/A |
168 | Newark, NJ | 7.3 | +37.7% | 180 | +12 | 25.7 |
169 | Sunnyvale, CA | 7.3 | +37.8% | 163 | -6 | N/A |
170 | Houston, TX | 7.2 | +37.9% | 158 | -12 | N/A |
171 | Grand Prairie, TX | 7.2 | +38.0% | 172 | +1 | N/A |
172 | Fremont, CA | 7.2 | +39.0% | 165 | -7 | N/A |
173 | Anaheim, CA | 7.2 | +39.1% | 146 | -27 | N/A |
174 | Bellevue, WA | 7.1 | +40.7% | N/A | N/A | 19.8 |
175 | Arlington, TX | 7.1 | +40.9% | 176 | +1 | N/A |
176 | Fullerton, CA | 7.0 | +42.4% | 171 | -5 | N/A |
177 | Dallas, TX | 7.0 | +43.0% | 174 | -3 | N/A |
178 | Torrance, CA | 7.0 | +43.5% | 161 | -17 | N/A |
179 | Atlanta, GA | 7.0 | +43.8% | 179 | 0 | N/A |
180 | Paterson, NJ | 6.9 | +44.2% | 184 | +4 | 25.0 |
181 | Garland, TX | 6.9 | +44.4% | 182 | +1 | N/A |
182 | Irving, TX | 6.9 | +44.4% | 175 | -7 | N/A |
183 | Portland, OR | 6.9 | +45.0% | 177 | -6 | 18.4 |
184 | Seattle, WA | 6.9 | +45.9% | 173 | -11 | 14.9 |
185 | Pittsburgh, PA | 6.8 | +46.2% | 187 | +2 | 18.7 |
186 | Garden Grove, CA | 6.8 | +46.9% | 162 | -24 | N/A |
187 | Bridgeport, CT | 6.7 | +49.0% | 185 | -2 | 21.2 |
188 | Oakland, CA | 6.6 | +52.1% | 183 | -5 | N/A |
189 | New Haven, CT | 6.3 | +59.9% | 191 | +2 | 22.9 |
190 | Alexandria, VA | 6.2 | +60.5% | 193 | +3 | N/A |
191 | Los Angeles, CA | 6.1 | +63.3% | 188 | -3 | N/A |
192 | Philadelphia, PA | 6.1 | +64.4% | 192 | 0 | 33.9 |
193 | San Francisco, CA | 6.1 | +65.0% | 190 | -3 | N/A |
194 | Glendale, CA | 5.6 | +79.4% | 194 | 0 | N/A |
195 | Providence, RI | 5.3 | +87.4% | 196 | +1 | N/A |
196 | Springfield, MA | 5.2 | +93.1% | 197 | +1 | N/A |
197 | Washington, DC | 4.8 | +106.3% | 198 | +1 | N/A |
198 | Baltimore, MD | 4.7 | +113.9% | 195 | -3 | 20.6 |
199 | Worcester, MA | 4.5 | +120.7% | 200 | +1 | N/A |
200 | Boston, MA | 3.9 | +157.7% | 199 | -1 | 13.4 |
The Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report® tabulates property damage collision frequency of Allstate insured drivers from 2012-2013. | ||||||
The report analyzes the 200 largest cities from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places over 50,000, measured for 2013 as of July 1, 2014. In prior years, neighboring cities that shared zip codes also shared rankings. This only impacted a minimal number of cities; however, in 2014 and 2015, the report used geolocation to increase accuracy and there are no longer shared rankings. U.S. Census Bureau data was used to obtain the population density factor. For the precipitation factor, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data was utilized. Allstate Drivewise® data is based on Allstate customers voluntarily enrolled in the telematics program from 2010-2014. A number of cities from the full 200 Best Drivers rankings are excluded in the Drivewise data due to the limited measurable data available, or because Drivewise was not available (California, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas). | ||||||
The Allstate Best Drivers Report is produced solely to boost the country’s discussion about safe driving and to increase awareness of the | ||||||
importance of being safe and attentive behind the wheel. The report is not used to determine auto insurance rates. |
Accident-free and safe driver car insurance discounts
Safe driving, besides protecting you and those around you, is also cheered by insurers because fewer accidents mean fewer repair and medical claims. Crashes and moving violations will push up premiums, but a clean driving record for a certain number of years -- typically three -- should snag a discount of 10 to 25 percent.
Some car insurance companies offer an “accident-free” discount starting at 5 percent to drivers who do not have an at-fault accident for a specified period, typically three or five years, depending on the insurer. Accident-free discounts usually to the bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision and medical payments portions of your policy.